Abstract

The study assessed the role of personality on burnout in prison officers. N=120 prison officers working in the United Kingdom (UK) completed questionnaires assessing: (a) three dimensions of burnout: depersonalisation, personal accomplishment and emotional exhaustion, and (b) personality variables: the ‘big five’ and locus of control. Neuroticism predicted emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment, and locus of control predicted all burnout dimensions. Prison officers higher in neuroticism and with an external locus of control might be at greater risk for burnout. Future studies might examine whether stress management interventions alleviate burnout in prison officers; particular attention might be paid to officers whose personality profile places them ‘at risk’.